H-1B Visa Urban Planner Jobs
Urban Planner roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations under SOC code 19-3051, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in urban planning, regional planning, or a closely related field. Municipal agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, and private consulting firms all sponsor H-1B petitions for this occupation, with no lottery exemption but consistent annual demand.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Stantec’s Buildings team is on a mission to become the world’s leading integrated design practice. Our architects, engineers, interior designers, consultants, sustainability specialists, and technologists are passionate about the power of design. Our collaborative culture and our innovative, sustainable approach to projects help us create buildings that matter to our world. Together, we are enhancing the quality of life globally through design. Join us and design your place with Stantec.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Stantec’s San Francisco office is seeking a motivated Campus / Urban Planner to join our Planning team. This role will support planning efforts for college and university campuses, with opportunities to contribute to related urban and community planning projects. The ideal candidate will have an educational background in both planning and design (architecture, landscape architecture, or urban design). Data analytics experience is preferred but not required.
Key Responsibilities
- Support planning projects for colleges and universities, including campus master plans, district plans and site studies, as well as specialized planning studies.
- Assist with select urban and community planning projects, particularly those that interface with campus environments.
- Conduct research related to campus and urban planning topics.
- Provide technical support to planning projects, including GIS mapping, data collection and analysis, report writing, and preparation of planning deliverables such as plans, maps, diagrams, and graphics.
- Prepare graphic and written materials, including presentations, reports, and visual communication.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including planners, architects, landscape architects, urban designers, engineers, and other planning and design professionals.
- Coordinate with campus clients, public agencies, consultants, and other project stakeholders.
- Facilitate campus and community engagement activities, such as workshops, charrettes, and stakeholder meetings.
- Support proposal development and other business development efforts.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Professional planning experience ideally in a higher education or institutional context.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in collaborative, multidisciplinary teams on planning or design projects.
- Strong work ethic with a high level of organization and attention to detail.
- Proficiency in standard planning and design software tools, including Microsoft Office, InDesign, Adobe Acrobat, and Bluebeam. Additional proficiency in SketchUp, Rhino, Photoshop, Illustrator, and AutoCAD, and working ability with AI tools is preferred.
- Working knowledge of industry-standard GIS software, such as Esri’s ArcGIS.
- Strong written and verbal communications skills, including ability to prepare clear, concise planning reports and presentations to campus and public audiences.
- Strong graphic skills and ability to assist in the preparation of plan diagrams and graphics, including two- and three-dimensional representations at the campus, district and building scales.
- Quantitative and data-analytic skills are preferred.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or a related field, and a Master’s degree in a related discipline.
Professional certification / licensure or ability to obtain with one or more of the following: AICP, NOMA, AIA, LEED, LEED-ND, Sites AP, or other pertinent credentials.
Minimum of two years of experience in campus planning, urban planning, or related work with a private consulting firm or higher education institution is preferred.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Typical office environment working with computers and remaining sedentary for long periods of time. Field work may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather.
This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.
PAY RANGE:
Locations in NYC & CA (Bay Area) & NJ (RP) - $90,500.00 - $131,200.00 Annually
PAY TRANSPARENCY: In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Please note, the final agreed upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. At Stantec certain roles are bonus eligible. Actual compensation for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on the agreed number of working hours per week.
BENEFITS SUMMARY: Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave. Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law).
Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.
The benefits information listed above may not apply to union positions because benefits for such positions are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements.
LOCATION
Primary Location: United States | CA | San Francisco
ORGANIZATION: 4001 Buildings-US ACQ PSP California A&ID-San Francisco CA
EMPLOYEE STATUS: Regular
BUSINESS JUSTIFICATION: Replacement
TRAVEL: No
SCHEDULE: Full time
JOB POSTING: 12/02/2026 05:02:52
REQ ID: 1004293
Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.
INTRODUCTION
Stantec’s Buildings team is on a mission to become the world’s leading integrated design practice. Our architects, engineers, interior designers, consultants, sustainability specialists, and technologists are passionate about the power of design. Our collaborative culture and our innovative, sustainable approach to projects help us create buildings that matter to our world. Together, we are enhancing the quality of life globally through design. Join us and design your place with Stantec.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Stantec’s San Francisco office is seeking a motivated Campus / Urban Planner to join our Planning team. This role will support planning efforts for college and university campuses, with opportunities to contribute to related urban and community planning projects. The ideal candidate will have an educational background in both planning and design (architecture, landscape architecture, or urban design). Data analytics experience is preferred but not required.
Key Responsibilities
- Support planning projects for colleges and universities, including campus master plans, district plans and site studies, as well as specialized planning studies.
- Assist with select urban and community planning projects, particularly those that interface with campus environments.
- Conduct research related to campus and urban planning topics.
- Provide technical support to planning projects, including GIS mapping, data collection and analysis, report writing, and preparation of planning deliverables such as plans, maps, diagrams, and graphics.
- Prepare graphic and written materials, including presentations, reports, and visual communication.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including planners, architects, landscape architects, urban designers, engineers, and other planning and design professionals.
- Coordinate with campus clients, public agencies, consultants, and other project stakeholders.
- Facilitate campus and community engagement activities, such as workshops, charrettes, and stakeholder meetings.
- Support proposal development and other business development efforts.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Professional planning experience ideally in a higher education or institutional context.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in collaborative, multidisciplinary teams on planning or design projects.
- Strong work ethic with a high level of organization and attention to detail.
- Proficiency in standard planning and design software tools, including Microsoft Office, InDesign, Adobe Acrobat, and Bluebeam. Additional proficiency in SketchUp, Rhino, Photoshop, Illustrator, and AutoCAD, and working ability with AI tools is preferred.
- Working knowledge of industry-standard GIS software, such as Esri’s ArcGIS.
- Strong written and verbal communications skills, including ability to prepare clear, concise planning reports and presentations to campus and public audiences.
- Strong graphic skills and ability to assist in the preparation of plan diagrams and graphics, including two- and three-dimensional representations at the campus, district and building scales.
- Quantitative and data-analytic skills are preferred.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or a related field, and a Master’s degree in a related discipline.
Professional certification / licensure or ability to obtain with one or more of the following: AICP, NOMA, AIA, LEED, LEED-ND, Sites AP, or other pertinent credentials.
Minimum of two years of experience in campus planning, urban planning, or related work with a private consulting firm or higher education institution is preferred.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Typical office environment working with computers and remaining sedentary for long periods of time. Field work may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather.
This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.
PAY RANGE:
Locations in NYC & CA (Bay Area) & NJ (RP) - $90,500.00 - $131,200.00 Annually
PAY TRANSPARENCY: In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Please note, the final agreed upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. At Stantec certain roles are bonus eligible. Actual compensation for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on the agreed number of working hours per week.
BENEFITS SUMMARY: Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave. Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law).
Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.
The benefits information listed above may not apply to union positions because benefits for such positions are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements.
LOCATION
Primary Location: United States | CA | San Francisco
ORGANIZATION: 4001 Buildings-US ACQ PSP California A&ID-San Francisco CA
EMPLOYEE STATUS: Regular
BUSINESS JUSTIFICATION: Replacement
TRAVEL: No
SCHEDULE: Full time
JOB POSTING: 12/02/2026 05:02:52
REQ ID: 1004293
Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.
See all H-1B Visa Urban Planner Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as an Urban Planner
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation standards
Urban planning roles require a directly related degree to clear the H-1B specialty occupation threshold. A degree in geography or public policy may qualify, but expect USCIS to scrutinize the connection. Get a credential evaluation before applying.
Target MPOs and regional planning agencies
Metropolitan planning organizations and regional councils are cap-exempt if affiliated with a qualifying nonprofit or government entity, meaning your petition skips the lottery entirely. Confirm cap-exempt status with the employer before accepting an offer.
Search LCA filings for urban planning roles
Use Migrate Mate to filter employers by verified DOL Labor Condition Application filings in urban planning occupations, so you're targeting organizations with a documented H-1B sponsorship record rather than cold-applying to unknowns.
Check prevailing wage levels before negotiating
Your offer must meet the DOL prevailing wage for your location and experience level. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the Level I through Level IV wages for SOC code 19-3051 in your target metro before salary discussions begin.
Ask about AICP certification in the offer stage
Some employers list AICP certification as a requirement on job postings but waive it for H-1B candidates in exchange for a timeline commitment. Clarify this in writing before the I-129 is filed, since USCIS may request evidence of professional credentials.
Account for LCA certification timing in your start date
Your employer must get the LCA certified by DOL before USCIS can adjudicate the I-129 petition. DOL typically certifies within seven business days, but build at least two weeks of buffer into your proposed start date to avoid gaps.
H-1B Visa Urban Planner: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Urban Planner role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. Urban planning qualifies as a specialty occupation because the job normally requires a bachelor's degree or higher in urban planning, regional planning, or a directly related field. USCIS evaluates whether your specific role and degree field are aligned, so roles involving GIS analysis, zoning review, or comprehensive planning all typically clear this bar without significant challenge.
Do government agencies sponsor H-1B visas for Urban Planners?
Many do, but the process differs from private sector employers. Federal agencies generally don't use H-1B, but state and local government agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, and public transit authorities regularly sponsor H-1B petitions. Some of these entities qualify as cap-exempt, which means your petition bypasses the annual lottery. Confirm cap-exempt status directly with the hiring agency before assuming lottery avoidance.
How do I find Urban Planner employers who sponsor H-1B visas?
Migrate Mate filters Urban Planner job listings by employers with verified H-1B Labor Condition Application filing history, so you can target organizations that have already navigated the sponsorship process rather than guessing from job postings. Consulting firms, transit agencies, and planning departments at larger municipalities are the most active sponsors in this occupation.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new Urban Planner employer mid-status?
Yes. H-1B portability under AC21 lets you start working for a new employer as soon as the transfer petition is filed, not after approval, provided your current H-1B has been approved for at least 180 days. The new employer must file a new I-129 and a new LCA reflecting the wages and duties at the new organization before your first day.
What documentation does an Urban Planner need for an H-1B petition?
Your employer will need your academic transcripts, a degree certificate or credential evaluation if your degree is from outside the U.S., and documentation connecting your specific degree field to the planning role. If your degree is in a adjacent field like geography or public administration, prepare an advisory opinion or letter from a professional association explaining the nexus. USCIS requests these in Requests for Evidence more often for borderline field matches.